Stakeout [1988] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Amazon.co.uk Review

A comedy thriller with a silken thread of romance, 1987's Stakeout stars Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez as a pair of undercover cops assigned to watch the apartment of the former girlfriend (Madeleine Stowe) of a violent escaped convict. Complications ensue when Dreyfuss' cop poses as a telephone inspector to get in and bug the girlfriend's phone and they strike up a relationship.

Initially coming on a bit like a cross between Hitchcock's Rear Window and Porky's, Stakeout ends up falling between the two stools of mirth and suspense. Some half-amusing business involving a series of practical jokes between the cop duo and their relief partners doesn't add materially to the film. Emilio Estevez's sidekick role is under-developed and he brings to this none of the loose cannon mania he would later bring to Young Guns. Dreyfuss isn't entirely convincing as a tough, seasoned cop and Aidan Quinn as the villain comes across as a poor man's James Woods. Yet for all these flaws, director John Badham just about manages to cobble together a watchable caper.

On the DVD: Stakeout on disc has no extras of any kind, not even a trailer. The feature is presented in widescreen 1.85:1 format with Dolby digital 5.1 sound. The dubbing briefly goes awry near the end. --David Stubbs

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic laugh out loud........2008-02-23

I loved this film, it was so funny, with a bit of action and it's share of hold your breath moments.
Dreyfuss & Estevez are undercover police on a "routine" stakeout, their subject, a long ago girlfriend of an escaped prisioner. The prisoner who is on the run is not in the least expected to turn up at this stakeout so the pair decide to liven up what would be an otherwise boring assignment for them with hilarious results. Dreyfuss trying to win the affections of the women for a laugh, finds himself in all kinds of trouble with both sides of the law. They don't come funnier that this...watch it,buy it,love it.

More than a action movie.......2000-12-01

It was a video recommended by a friend, and I looked at it as a waste of time. I don't like much the linear/stupid/predictable plot of action movies. Surprise! The plot is just an excuse to reveal the best duo in cinema ever: Dreyfus and Estevez. Very good acting, hilarious gags, this movie was made by people in good humor and happy with themselves. Fairly paced, the story unfolds with continuous elements of surprise. And guess what: the sequel is as good. A very good movie.

Average customer rating:

L.A. Heat [1988] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Starring: Gretchen Becker , Kevin Benton , Robert Gallo , Jay Richardson , and Joe Vance
Director: Joseph Merhi
Manufacturer: Madacy
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

All Action & Adventure | Action & Adventure | Categories | DVD | Video

All Drama | Drama | Categories | DVD | Video

All Children's DVD | Children's DVD | Categories | DVD | Video

DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00009V7SC
Release Date: 2003-07-08

UK DVD:

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